Sussex Turnpike Industrial Condominiums

Beta Realty of Randolph Township, New Jersey acquired the former manufacturing facility of Westinghouse Elevators, with plans for an 865,033 square foot mixed-use office, warehouse and light industrial complex. Ongoing development included construction of four additional buildings and extensive conservation and environmental protection measures.

Gardner Associates planned, designed, obtained permits and administered the construction of a 20,000 gallon per day state-of-the-art wastewater collection and recycling facility. The project design leveraged the existing 200,000 gallon water tower and a 300,000 gallon ground storage tank that were filled and maintained with on-site well water.

We were responsible for designing systems to collect and treat wastewater and on–site disposal. Utilizing the existing storage capacity and avoiding the extensive underground utilities as well as planning for very high groundwater elevations all became significant considerations.

The final construction involved a unique horizontal 48” diameter, 200’ foot long raw sewage storage tank, ground water quality sewage treatment plant and recycling system. The recycled water is stored in the elevated tank and recycled back to the individual buildings via a separate recycled water distribution system. The permitted uses of the treated waste include all toilet flushing and other non-contact uses. Recycled water is also used for irrigation of landscaping including sensitive man-made wetland plantings. Additionally, the treated waste is directed to the ground storage tank for fire protection.

The separate fire loop is charged by booster pumps and is supplemented by well water when needed. A third distribution system for potable water is also present on the site. Project planning included the interim use of sewer facilities as a septic installation, enabling construction to move forward with minimal cost and interruption of services for the client. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection representatives have suggested that no firm ever combined so many uses for recycled waste in one permit. This may be the only time treated waste has been stored in an elevated water tower in NJ. The Gardner firm obtained local and state permits and final operation startup was completed in the spring of 2006.